June 11 / 13.35 Goodwood

13.35

Good To Firm

William Hill Epic Value Handicap

  • Prize money: £10468
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
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William Hill Epic Value Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.60
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 500-23 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Only a length away at Ascot (6f, soft) a month ago in a race he won the previous season off 8lb lower; can go well again despite a toughish mark; has won over 7f and all ground seems to come alike.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

10

(2)

22nd May 2026

Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:52 Goodwood

Mister Bluebird

9st 4lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: Heather Main

Went close at Musselburgh (7f, good) last time, showing he retains full ability aged eight; dual winner at Goodwood and may remain competitive; gained last three wins on soft ground.

8/1

2nd

2

(2)

26th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 4

17:45 Musselburgh

Mister Bluebird

9st 8lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: Heather Main

Well beaten on reappearance at Newcastle (6f, AW) 30 days ago and needs to be an entirely different proposition today; however, he's on a competitive mark on last season's best efforts and his C&D form figures read 123, with all three of those runs coming in cheekpieces (which go back on).

10/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 264062 D

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Without a win since his French days but a matter of time before putting that right and especially after his bold show at Epsom nine days ago (7f, good to firm) when looking all over the winner until reeled in late on; back up 3lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

(5)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

14:50 Newmarket

Darkness

9st 8lb

J: Neil Callan

T: David O’Meara

Took a step back in the right direction with his close sixth at Haydock on latest start and he's back in the visor in which his last five wins have come, including two last season (7f, good to firm); entitled to respect.

18/1

6th

10

(3)

25th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 37y

Class 2

14:35 Haydock

Darkness

9st 1lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: David O’Meara

Came good at Goodwood last August (7f, good to firm), running on strongly to bag a Class 2 handicap; faced a stiff task in a Thirsk conditions event on his reappearance two weeks ago; opposable with his usual visor remaining absent.

16/1

7th

1

(4)

10th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:25 Thirsk

Darkness

9st 8lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Useful sort who landed fast-ground handicap wins over C&D and at Goodwood last year; however, he has plenty to find on these terms and failed to beat a rival on his reappearance in 2024 and 2025.

25/1

6/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 21-83 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Won a 7f novice at Newmarket (good to soft; made all); dropped out on his return at Chelmsford (1m) after racing freely but back over 7f here (soft) a month ago he gave it a good go from the front (first-time tongue-tie); unraced on this faster ground but no reason why he shouldn't handle it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

11

(6)

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 96y

Class 4

16:00 Beverley

Physique

9st 1lb

J: Grace McEntee

T: Micky Fenton

Has rejoined Micky Fenton and not seen to ideal effect under an aggressive ride when third of seven in 7f Yarmouth handicap 17 days ago; can make his presence felt off a 2lb lower mark here.

8/1

3rd

3

(4)

13th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 3y

Class 4

16:28 Yarmouth

Physique

9st 8lb

J: Grace McEntee

T: Micky Fenton

Dual 7f winner (good to soft/heavy) and he was placed off higher marks than this when trained by Pam Sly last year; below his best in two starts since returning to this yard but he did have excuses at Newmarket 27 days ago having stumbled at the start and sat up with a strong pace; chance now dropped in grade.

6/1

15th

18

(6)

16th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

17:20 Newmarket

Physique

8st 10lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Micky Fenton

C&D novice winner back in the day and he was trained by Micky Fenton in Ireland when landing big Galway handicap (7f, heavy) in 2024; back with his former trainer (in Newmarket this time) when weakening over 6f at Doncaster 18 days ago; might step forward from that comeback.

16/1

Form: 512324 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Running well on the AW before returning to turf with a close fourth at Newmarket (7f, good) where a true pace would have been welcomed; can win races off this mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

(8)

26th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Chola Empire

9st 4lb

J: Luke Morris

T: David Simcock

Conditions to suit and he is back to the same mark off which he beat Captain Parma here in October; not at his best at Southwell last week but he is the type to bounce back quickly.

6/1

7/2

Form: 855-54 CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 8st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Losing run is mounting up but his mark is okay and after a slow start he did well to finish so close at York (7f, good to firm) two weeks ago; every chance if producing something similar.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

(4)

14th Sep 2023

Good To Firm

1m 0f 113y

Class 5

17:10 Epsom

La Maquina

9st 8lb

J: Hayley Turner

T: Harry Eustace

took keen hold, held up in rear

8/1

3rd

4

(9)

28th Aug 2023

Good

0m 7f 3y

Class 4

17:20 Epsom

La Maquina

9st 9lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: Harry Eustace

Suited by good/firmer; on a two-year losing spell; 0-4 for new yard this season, best effort when fourth at York in May; on a handy mark but others are more appealing.

10/1

7th

3

(1)

6th Jul 2023

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:50 Newbury

La Maquina

9st 13lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: Harry Eustace

took keen hold, in touch with leaders

9/1

14/1

Form: 2049-7 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
0-7 since his winning debut but he nearly won a Newmarket handicap last summer (1m, good to firm) off 5lb higher; not many positives to take from his comeback run (after wind surgery) but the ability is there to take a hand; now tongue tied.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(5)

31st May 2026

Good

1m 0f 75y

Class 5

17:25 Nottingham

Bass Player

8st 9lb

J: William Pyle

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

Ended 2025 with two good runs but he has been well short of that level in two runs this year, a wind op before the latest making no difference; tongue tie returns; risky despite his reduced mark.

20/1

11th

9

(8)

8th May 2026

Good To Soft

1m 1f 170y

Class 5

19:45 Ripon

Bass Player

8st 11lb

J: William Pyle

T: Kevin Frost

First win was on turf (7f) and last two have been on Tapeta (8.6f); reached the frame in two starts at Wolverhampton in December but he had a major blip there the following month; had another wind operation since and needs a major revival after four months off.

12/1

Form: 62234- D

Last run: 193 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Formerly a sprinter but stepping up to 7f suited him well when winning at Newmarket last season; mostly consistent in his next six starts but off since November and this run might be needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

(4)

31st Jan 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Mitrosonfire

9st 7lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

Losing spell goes back to 2022 and he's only 1-15 on AW; absent since last June; not the percentage call, unless the market suggests a big effort is on the cards.

12/1

8th

4

(4)

31st Jan 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Mitrosonfire

9st 7lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

in touch with leaders, short of room and dropped to midfield after 1f, weakened over 1f out

12/1

5th

7

(5)

27th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:30 Newmarket (July)

Mitrosonfire

9st 2lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

On a long losing run but he's well handicapped on last year's best efforts and was beaten just a neck at Leicester (7f, soft) last time on his second start back from a break; has won twice here (6f/7f, good to firm) and it's a course that often brings out the best in him; firmly in calculations.

13/2

Form: 29-978 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Competitive off higher marks when with the Gosdens but losing spell goes back to 2020 and he's not been threatening to end the drought this season.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(9)

27th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 5

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Al Rufaa

10st 0lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Daniel & Claire Kubler

Now 2lb lower than when keeping on well for close second behind course specialist in quite valuable Brighton Mile this summer, but recent Tapeta form has been underwhelming and he remains without a win since 2023.

10/1

1

(9)

27th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 5

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Al Rufaa

10st 0lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Daniel & Claire Kubler

Now 2lb lower than when keeping on well for close second behind course specialist in quite valuable Brighton Mile this summer, but recent Tapeta form has been underwhelming and he remains without a win since 2023.

10/1

7

(5)

3rd Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 4

18:45 Southwell (AW)

Al Rufaa

9st 9lb

J: Dylan Hogan

T: Daniel & Claire Kubler

Patchy record this year but he is on the same mark as when a close second in a competitive race at Brighton in August; each-way shout.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 073-50 D

Last run: 107 days

W: 10st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Useful handicapper; eyecatching fifth over 1m at Meydan on his penultimate run (never dangerous over 7f there the final time); his tendency to start slowly continues to hold him back and he was withdrawn when upset in the stalls at Sandown recently (20-1 at the time), but the ability is there to take a hand and 7f has always looked his optimum trip; hood an interesting addition and Oisin Murphy is 3-5 for the yard this season.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18th

30

(9)

21st Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Light And Dark

8st 9lb

J: David Probert

T: Saeed bin Suroor

Last win came on AW in 2020; raced just eight times since, proving far from consistent; failed to beat a rival on latest start (wore hood); unappealing contender and yard has a much stronger chance with Ghaly.

50/1

9th

2

(7)

11th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

13:35 Goodwood

Light And Dark

10st 0lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Saeed bin Suroor

slowly away, in rear

7/1

3

(5)

25th May 2023

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

20:12 Sandown

Light And Dark

9st 7lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Saeed bin Suroor

Useful 7f handicapper in Britain and seemed to see out the 1m okay when a closing, eyecatching fifth at Meydan on his penultimate run (never dangerous over 7f there the final time); his tendency to start slowly continues to hold him back and this strong a handicap takes no prisoners, but the ability is there to take a hand.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £31.20
Straight Forecast £31.78
Tricast £129.37
Trifecta £157.80

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Darkness

SPOTLIGHT:

Light And Dark

RP RATINGS:

La Maquina

LAMBOURN:

Physique

The Times:

Al Rufaa

POSTDATA:

Darkness

Telegraph:

Darkness

Daily Mirror:

Darkness

Daily Record:

Darkness

NEWMARKET:

Light And Dark

D Express:

Light And Dark

The Sun:

Light And Dark

The Star:

La Maquina